Draft rigging



MrJh 31,1931.

G. F. coucH DRAFT RIGGING Filed April 25, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet l M M yr I I-.\ I- 1 v M E v N G-l m E a w u w We Glam Couch G. F. COUCH DRVAFT RIGGING Filed April 25, 1928 Marcfi 31, T931.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 III Glenn F Caz/d2 I I Ill/Ill Patented Mar. 31', 1931 UNITED STATES P' TENT OFFICE QLENNF. COUCH, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO THE SYMINGTON COMPANY, NEW YORK, N. Y., A-COIRIPORATION OI MARYLAND nnnr'r RIGGIN Application filed April 23, 1928. Serial No. 272,285.

This invention relates to draft-rigging, and more particularly to cheek plates adapted to be secured tothe sides of associated center sills for improving the strength of connection between said sills and draft rigging positioned therebetween.

The principal object of my invention, generally considered, is to provide draft rigging cheek plates with inwardly extending abutment portions formed either-integral with or bracing the associated rear key for improving the strength of connection by decreasing the effective s an and increasing the bearing area for said ey.

Another object of my invention is to provide a check plate for railway draft rigging gfililbly slotted and formed with flanges deng the slots therein with the flange surroundin' the rear slot being extended inwardly eyond the flange surrounding the forward slot forembracing the associated rear key and decreasing the effective span of said key, while at the same time'increasing the bearing area.

A further object. of my invention is to provide a railway draft rigging with doubly slotted cheek plates connected to associated sills, draft keys extending through the slots in said check plates and supporting an associated coupler, yoke and front follower, the

rear slots in said cheek plates being formed with extensions between upper and lower portions of. said yoke, said extensions being continued closeto the front follower for decreasing the effective span for the associated rear key, whereby the strength ofconnection is increased. e

Other objects and advantagesof the invention relating to the particular arrangement and constructionof the various parts will become apparent as the description proceeds.

.Referrin to. the drawings illustrating mv i ntiomt e scope whereof is defined by tlf ap' ended claims :h a a ,igure 11s a partial plan and partial horizontal section ofa rtion of the car underframe showing dra rigging and associated cheek plates embodying my invention.

\ Figure 2 is a vertical longitudinal tional view of the rigging-shown in Figure 1 with the coupler and front follower omitted,- the associated yoke being shown only diagrammatically.

Figures 3 and 4 are views correspo i ding, respectively, to Figures 1 and 2,'but'showing a modification.

Referring to the drawings in detail, like parts being designated by like reference chanacters, and:first considering the embodiment as bushings in the .cheek plm slots and e nofgny i entQn illustratedin Figuresfand" 2, the center sills or draft sills of a car are designated by the reference character 1, the forward ends thereof being-connected by a combined striking casting and sill tie memher 2, and intermediate portions thereof being connected by any Ordinary or desired more particular y the vertical web portions ,4: thereof, are slotted, as indicated at 5, the slot in one sill registering with that in the other. Attached to said sills, preferably by .rivets 6 around the slotted portions 5 thereof, is a pair of cheek plates 7 inthe present embodiment'each being provided with a plurality or pair of slots Sand 9, the forward gear element 14 and extending through slotted rtions in the yoke 13.- The rear end of t e yoke 13 abuts the backstop 3 and is supported in any desired manner, as by means of angular clips 15. attached to the center sills 1. Theassociated cushioning mechanism 16 isindicated diagrammatically by dot and dashline andmay be supported in any desired manner as by means of a carrier iron 1'1 connected to the lower'flanges of the sills 1 b means of .bolts or the like, as illustrated,

an extending between the front'follow'er 14:

andfa'n associated rear follower 18.

In order to increase the bearing areas for the keys 10 and ;11, the slots-8 and 9 in the cheek plates are definedor bordered by flanges 19and 20,,res'pectively, said flanges extending outwardly beyond the webs 20 of form of backsto :castin'gBJ The sills 1, and,

the car.

the cheek plates which are connected to the outer sides of the webs 4 of the sills for providing relatively greatbearing area for the ends of the associated draft keys, as Well as increasing the strength of said cheek plates.

The flanges 19 and 20 extend inwardly toward the associated yoke 13 and engage the correspondingly slotted portions in the sill webs for increasing the strength of connection therewith and taking the strain off the rivets 6. The rear ends of the rear slots 9 are reinforced by intermediate webs 21 extending between the flanges 20 and the extension 22 filling the slot 5 in the associated sill which is of suflicient length to receive the same. The adjacent ends of the front and rear slotted portions are similarly rigidified by the intermediate web or'gusset 23.

It will be understood that the rear key is what directly transmits the draft forces to the cheek plates and sills of the car, said forces passing from the coupler to the front key, yoke, rear follower, cushioning mechanism, front follower and from there through the rear key to the cheek plates and sills of In order to decrease the effective span for the rear key 11, as well as increase the. bearing area provided for said key, the flanges 20 are extended inwardly toward each other between spaced portions 24: and 25 of the yoke 13 so that the inner ends thereof are closely adjacent the front follower 14, said extensions in the present embodiment only being at the front and rear ends of the slots 9 and tapering off to merge into the planes of the inner faces of the center sills 1,

as indicated at 26, between the front and rear.

ends of said slots. This construction decreases the span for the rear key by an amount approximating double the thickness of the arms of the yoke and this decrease in span, as will be understood, is quite material, especially as it is accompanied by the corresponding increase in bearing area for the key. Although the extensions between the upper and lower portions 24 and 25 of the yoke are illustrated as only at the front and rear ends of the slots 9, it will be understood that I do not wish to be limited to this showing as said extensions may he continued the full length of the slots, if desired, and the yoke arms correspondingly spaced.

Referring now to theembodiment of my invention illustrated in Figures 3 and 4, a construction is there disclosed which aCcom plishes the same result as in the previous embodiment, the sills 1a being correspondingly slotted and having connected thereto cheek plates 711 as in the previous embodiment, said cheer plates being slotted, as indicated at 8a and for supporting front and rear keys 10a and 11a, respectively, which in turn support the coupler 1242, the yoke 13a, and the front follower 14a.

in the present embodiment the yoke 13a is different from that of the previous embodiment in that instead of comprising vertically spaced loop portions connected at their forward ends only, it involves a single loop portion formed with relatively large slots 27 adjacent the forward ends thereof, the forward end of the slots receiving the front key 10a and the rear ends of said slots being correspondingly enlarged to receive the inner ends of bushings 28 which may be cast in place or otherwise securely attached in the rear slots 9a in the cheek plates 7a, the inner ends of said bushings extending toward each other to closely approach the front follower 14a and function in a manner similar to the extensions of the flanges 20 on the cheek plates of the previous embodiment.

As contra distinguished from the flanged extensions on the cheek plates of the previous embodiment, the bushings are extended a uniform amount at their inner sides and the slots 27 in the yoke as therefore necessarily considerably enlarged to receive said extensions. It will be understood, however,that the extensions on the bushings 28 may correspond with the integral extensions from the cheek plates of the first embodiment, if desired. The yoke slots re continued beyond the rear ends of the'bi hings 28 an amount sufficient to allow for the coni prdssion of the associated draft gear 16a. In the present embod ment the front ends of the bushings 28 are shown flanged beyond the correspondingly slotted portions of the cheek plates 7 a, as indicated at 29, said flanged portion tapering to merge with the plane of the outer face of the cheek plate flanges 19a and 20a a short distance rearwardly of the front end of the slot in said bushings. Except as specifically described in connection with the present embodiment, the same may correspond with that of the first embodiment. I

From the foregoing disclosure it will be apparent that I have devised reinforcing cheek plates for draft or center sills of railway cars which cooperate with the associated rear key for improving the strength of connection by not onl decreasing the span provided for said key ut increasing the bearing area for the ends of the same. The yoke used with such cheek plates may involve either vertically spaced loop portions connected at their front ends or a loop portion formed with unusually large slots at the front ends thereof. It is only necessary to provide the extended abutment portions around the rear slots in the cheek plates, said abutment portions being either at the front and rear ends of said slots or surrounding said slots for the full length thereof. Said extensions may be either integral with the cheek plates, as illustrated in the first embodiment, or formed as bushings securely connected to the cheek plates in any desired manner.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In railway draft rigging, in combination with center sills formed with elongated slots therein, cheek plates'cach having a plurality of alined slots and connected to the ly from opposite faces of said cheek plates,

the sill adjacent portions of said flanges engaging the edges of the slotted portions of said sills, and portions extending inwardly beyond said sills in the slotted portions of the 1yoke close to the follower to increase the caring area and shorten the span of said key,

2. In railway draft rigging, in combination with slotted center sills, cheek plates correspondingly slotted and positioned so that the slots in one register with those in the other, adraft key extending through oppositely disposed slots in said cheek plates, a slotted yoke associated with said key, a slotted front follower disposed between the arms of said yoke and mounted on said key, and inward projections on said cheek plates extending in'the slotted portions of said yoke close to the follower and embracing said key. for increasing thestrength thereof by shortening the effective span. I I

3. In railway draft rigging, in combination with center sills with elongated slots therein, cheek plates each having a plurality of alined slots and positioned so that the slots in one register with those in the other, flanges surrounding the slotted'portions in said cheek plates and engaging the edges of the slots in the sills, the forward and rearward end portions of the rear slots in said cheek plates being formed withflanges extending inwardly beyond the upper and lower flanged'portions thereof for engaging an associated draft key and increasing the strength thereof by decreasing the effective span, the depth of said extensions being such that they are receivable between portions of a horizontal yoke normally spaced toreceive a front follower-supporting key.

4. A cheek plate adapted for connection to a draft sill and comprising a web having horizontally alined forward and rearward slots therein, adapted for receiving associated coupler-connecting and draft gear element-supportingkeys, respectively, a plurality of flanges projecting laterally from the opposite faces of said plate and defining the edges of said slots, the flanges extending from the inner face of said cheek plate around the rearward slot being continued beyond the flange surrounding the forward slot to form elongated stop means for the draft gear element-supporting key for decreasing the distance between the abutment portions for said key, whereby the effective strength of connection between the draft gear and the associated sill is increased.

tion with center sills formed with elongated slots therein, cheek plates each having a slot and connected to the sills, a draft key extending through the slots in said cheek plates, :1. 5

horizontal yoke with'vertically spaced portions of each arm extending above and below said key, a movable element of associated draft mechanism disposed between the arms of said yoke and connected to the cheek plates by said key, and flanges projecting laterally from the inner faces of said cheek plates between said spaced portions of the yoke close to the movable element to increase the key bearing-area and shorten the span thereof. 8

6. In railway draft rigging, in combination with center sills having elongated slots, slotted cheek plates connected to said sills, said slots being considerably larger than the normal slots in railway draft gear cheek plates, bushings received in said enlarged slots in said cheek plates and provided with slots of normal size for receiving a front follower draft key,said bushings extending inwardly toward one another and providing space therebetween just sufiicient to receive a an associated front follower, a draft key eX- tending through the slots in said bushings, a follower supported on said key, and a yoke embracing said follower and formed with slots enlarged to receive those portions of the bushings extended toward said follower.

7. A cheek plate adapted for-connection to a draft sill and comprising a web with an enlarged slot therein, a bushing securely con- 5 'nected in said slot and extended laterally from the inner face of said plate, said bushing having a slot therein of normal size for receiving a follower supporting draft key, said bushing extending from the inner face of the no check plate an amount approximately equivalent to the normal thickness of a yoke arm so that it is adapted to closely approach an associated follower for decreasing the distance between the abutment portions for the 1 associated key, whereby the effective strength of connection between the follower andassociated sill is increased.

8. A check plate adapted for connection to a draft sill and comprising a web having a pluralty of horizontally aligned slots, a plurality, of flanges projecting laterally from the opposite face of said plate and defining the edges of said slots, the flanges extending from the plate around the rear slot being more widely spaced than the flanges around the forward slot, and a bushing securely seated between the flanges around the rear slot, and extended beyond the inner edges of said flanges an amount substantially'correspond- 70 5. In railway draft r1gg1ng,1n comb1na-' ing with the normal thickness of a draft yoke I arm, said bushing having a slot therein of normal size for receiving an associated horizontal draft key.

9. A cheek plate adapted for connection to a draft sill and comprising a web with a horizontally disposed slot therein adapted for receiving a draft gear element supporting key, flanges projecting from the inner face of said plate and defining the edges of said slot, the portions of said flanges adjacent the ends of said slot extending beyond the remainder of 'said flanges an amount approximating the normal thickness of an arm of a horizontal yoke, the depth of said extensions corresponding with the normal spacing between upper and lower portions of said yoke arm for receiving a draft key, said extensions forming elongated stop means for said key for decreasing the distance between the key abutment portions whereby the effective strength of connection between the draft gear element and the associated sill is increased.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature. GLENN F. COUCH. 

